By Tatenda Dewa | Harare Bureau |
As political tension rises, named Zanu PF members burnt down a house belonging to a Zimbabwe People First (ZimPF) official in Marondera West over the weekend, according to a news alert.
In the statement, Centre for Community Development in Zimbabwe (CCDZ) said the ruling Zanu PF youths told the victim, Taungana Makirimira, the ZimPF constituency co-ordinator for Marondera West, that they wanted to punish him for working for the new opposition party.
ZimPF is headed by Joice Mujuru, President Robert Mugabe’s deputy between 2004 and 2014 who was expelled from Zanu PF for allegedly plotting to remove him from power.
“The ZimPF co-ordinator lost 6 bags of fertilizer, maize seed, blankets, clothes and kitchen utensils among other things,” said CCDZ.
Makirimira told CCDZ that the Zanu PF youth leaders named as Lucian Chipitiri, the ward youth chairperson, Munyaradzi Chikosha and Taderera Gwanzura (ward chairperson) confronted him at a local shopping centre and threatened him with unspecified action.
He reported the case at Landas Police Station but it was not immediately clear what action was taken.
“The Centre for Community Development in Zimbabwe is concerned about the escalation of violence and the failure by police to protect citizens.
“We call upon the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) to investigate this particular incident and hold the perpetrators accountable for their actions,” said CCDZ.
Since its formation, ZimPF has been a target of Zanu PF attacks, particularly in rural areas.
Axe-wielding Zanu PF youths recently attacked opposition Zimbabwe People First (ZimPF) members in Guruve, Mashonaland Central province.
Among the victims was Retired Brigadier General Agrippa Mutambara, a senior party member.
Violence broke out when the ruling party gang invaded a subdivision of Dunaventy Farm that is owned by a ZimPF provincial leader, Obert Mutasa.
A Landcruiser belonging to Wilbert Mubaiwa, another ZimPF party member, had its rear windscreen smashed while a Toyota saloon owned by one Manyika was torched by the youths. Nehanda Radio
